Center sale going ahead but price is cut

COLUMBUS, Miss. (AP) — The city and a church are still on track to complete the sale of the city-owned I.C. Cousins center.

But The Commercial Dispatch reports the sale price has dropped by $2,000.

The City Council voted to cut the price from $20,500 after drainage problems were discovered. The property is being purchased by Pastor Rone Burgin, who plans to turn it into a church for United Faith Interdenominational Ministries.

The deal is expected to be completed within 30 days.

City Administrator David Armstrong said the deal was brokered by Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Authority Director Roger Short.

“Roger came to us and asked that we knock $2,000 off the price due to some drainage issues,” Armstrong said.

Short said there had been some substantial rain since the deal was negotiated and there had been some flooding in the area.

The Columbus Planning Commission recommended the City Council approve a zoning change for the center, which the council approved in December. The property, which was zoned R-1 or single-family residential, was granted permitted usage status as a church.